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Lafayette Parish School Board moves forward on facility upgrades

Lafayette Parish School Board holds virtual meeting as the stay at home order remains in effect. Wednesday, April 15, 2020.(Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)

The Lafayette Parish School Board held its regular meeting Wednesday, but little about it was regular. Most board members attended and voted virtually, using web conferencing technology, and the public could give comments through a call-in hotline.

This is the new norm for public meetings as stay-at-home orders from the governor remain in place through April 30.

With schools still closed and academic metrics like assignments and testing waived, much of the board's agenda this month revolves around facilities, including the board room.

The board approved a plan to upgrade board room cameras and video equipment to high-definition. The $25,500 upgrade was previously planned, but it will better equip the district to conduct meetings in this way for the foreseeable future.

The board is awarding the bid for renovations at Alice Boucher Elementary, which includes a cafeteria addition, renovations to the front office and front entrance, addition of restroom facilities and a larger library.

Bids were received April 1, and the lowest was $1,557,200 from Acadiane' Renovations, Ltd.

A motion to use remaining federal grant funds for Southside High for athletic facility improvements failed 4-5.

When Jeremy Hidalgo was representing the new school and surrounding area, he advocated using the funds, which have an expiration date, to purchase portable buildings in case student population outgrows the building.

Some on the board and members of the public balked at the idea of putting portable classrooms at a brand-new facility as the board's mission had been to replace all "butler buildings" across the district with permanent structures.

Donald Aguillard now represents Southside on the board, and in March he proposed using the remaining $683,044 of USDA funds for athletic facility improvements and to purchase furniture, fixtures and equipment, including technology.

This proposal passed March 11, and staff prepared an estimate of cost and project scope for the April meeting.

The agenda included an estimate of $120,000 for furniture and equipment; $385,379 to build restrooms and a concession building; and $151,936 for dugouts.

Staff determined there would be no enough money to cover bleachers, which had been discussed. This would have left $25,729 in USDA funds, according to the estimate.

Read or Share this story: https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2020/04/13/lafayette-parish-school-board-agenda-facility-upgrades-considered-paul-breaux-alice-boucher-carencro/2985049001/